Method and apparatus for composting organic material

Abstract

A composting method and apparatus is shown and described. A volume of organic material to be composted is stacked on a surface to form a pile. A plurality of pipes are provided below the surface on which the pile is formed, each of the pipes having a plurality of holes that are aligned with corresponding holes in the surface. The pipes are connected to a manifold which in turn is coupled to a fan assembly, the fan assembly selectively creating positive and negative air flow through the pile. Air and moisture drawn from the pile flows through a conduit to a biofilter, cool air and fluid being added to the conduit upstream of the biofilter. The conduit passes through a greenhouse, such that heat radiated from the conduit is collected and used by the greenhouse. Moisture collected from the system may be treated and reused, for example, to irrigate the piles.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for composting large volumes of organic material over a selected accelerated composting period while minimizing odor production, comprising: stacking a volume of organic material onto a surface to create a porous pile;   generating a negative airflow through the porous pile for a first selected portion of the selected accelerated composting period;   generating a positive airflow through the porous pile for a second selected portion of the selected accelerated composting period;   drawing a first air and liquid from the porous pile into a conduit;   adding a second air and liquid to the conduit to saturate and cool the first air and liquid in the conduit;   passing the combined first and second air and liquid from the conduit through a biofilter; and   mineralizing odorous compounds with a bacteria in the biofilter wherein the air is filtered.   
     
     
       2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: providing a biofilter media comprising mature compost, hardwood, and shredded stumps wherein passing the combined first and second air and liquid further comprises running the air through the biofilter media of mature compost, hardwood and shredded stumps.   
     
     
       3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: preventing compaction of the porous pile during stacking by generating a positive airflow through the pile during stacking.   
     
     
       4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: reducing noxious odors through aerobic mineralization while drawing the negative air flow through the porous pile.   
     
     
       5. The method according to claim 1 wherein generating a positive airflow through the pile for a first selected portion of the composting period includes increasing the porosity of the pile during processing. 
     
     
       6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: passing the conduit through a greenhouse to capture heat radiated from the conduit.   
     
     
       7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: monitoring selected parameters of the first air and liquid in the conduit upstream of the biofilter; and   selectively increasing and decreasing the addition of the second air and liquid to the conduit to maintain the selected parameters at a desired level.   
     
     
       8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising ensuring that the air entering the biofilter is 100% saturated, the temperature of the air entering the biofilter is no more than 100° F. and the ammonia content of the air entering the conduit is no more than 30 mg/m 3 . 
     
     
       9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: collecting liquid from the conduit upstream of and below the biofilter; and   irrigating the pile with the collected liquid.   
     
     
       10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: monitoring selected parameters of the pile; and   selectively increasing and decreasing the rate of air flow through the pile to maintain the selected parameters at a desired level designed to maximize aerobic mineralization.   
     
     
       11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: monitoring the temperature and oxygen content of the pile.   
     
     
       12. A method for composting large volumes of organic material over a selected accelerated composting period while minimizing odor production, comprising: stacking a volume of organic material onto a surface to create a pile;   generating a negative airflow through the pile for a first selected portion of the selected accelerated composting period;   generating a positive airflow through the pile for a second selected portion of the selected accelerated composting period;   drawing a first air and liquid from the pile into a conduit;   adding a second air and liquid to the conduit to cool the first air and liquid in the conduit;   adjusting the volume of the second air and liquid to create proper conditions to cultivate selected bacteria;   mineralizing odorous compounds with the selected bacteria; and   passing the combined first and second air and liquid from the conduit through a wet scrubber.   
     
     
       13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: moving the pile to a new location to agitate the pile;   generating a negative air flow through the pile for a first selected portion of a composting period; and   generating a positive air flow through the pile for a second selected portion of the composting period.   
     
     
       14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising: drawing the first air and liquid from the pile into a conduit;   adding the second air and liquid to the conduit to cool the air in the conduit; and   passing the combined first and second air and fluid from the conduit through the wet scrubber.   
     
     
       15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising passing the conduit through a greenhouse to capture heat radiated from the conduit. 
     
     
       16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising: collecting liquid from the conduit upstream of and below the wet scrubber; and   irrigating the pile with the collected liquid.   
     
     
       17. The method according to claim 13, further comprising: monitoring selected parameters of the pile; and   selectively increasing and decreasing the rate of air flow through the pile to maintain the selected parameters at a desired level.   
     
     
       18. The method according to claim 13, further comprising monitoring the temperature and oxygen content of the pile.